Today we’d like to introduce you to Josie Hasnik.
Hi Josie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started writing music during the pandemic, when there wasn’t much else to be doing, and started playing local shows as soon as quarantine started to lift. My first ever show was at Curioso Coffee in Uptown, and I was so nervous that I didn’t talk at all. I also didn’t have enough songs to fill my set time, so I ended up splitting the bill with another local musician named Sylvia Deiken. Since then I’ve played a lot more shows and gotten a lot more practice, and playing in front of crowds doesn’t scare me at all anymore, not to mention I have plenty of songs in the catalog to pull from now as well. Although I didn’t start writing until the pandemic, I’ve played the piano since I was much younger, and participated in an amazing music camp called She Rock She Rock. I’ve met many mentors an friends throughout my journey as a musician, especially those at She Rock, as well as those who helped me with my most recent release Weekends In Purgatory, which would include Taylor James Donkey and Tony Williamette; they were both a big part of the recording process, and Taylor has also been a huge part of production as well as playing at the album release show.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
One of my biggest struggles has been staying on top of social media and correspondence. Checking my phone and posting on instagram does not come naturally to me, and I get a lot of help from others to remind me to go through everything, as well as help from my friend Adriana Mathiason with posting about shows.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My main area of expertise is in songwriting, it’s one of my favorite parts of being a musician. I love crafting a story and fitting it into the form of a song; when I was younger I wanted to be an author until I realized I did not have the patience to write an entire book, so songwriting has become my outlet for storytelling. Music is such an expressive art form, and I love being able to use that to bring my stories to life.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Voice Memos has been a lifesaver for me whenever I’m working on a new song. It’s a really easy way to make notes and remember tiny details about something you’re writing, especially if you don’t have time to write it down. There is also an abundance of twenty second long clips that I sometimes stumble upon that I completely forgot about which is always a unsurprised that can strike up new inspiration.
Pricing:
- There is mercy at shows: CD’s ($10), shirts ($20) and stickers ($1)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://finickofficial.com
- Instagram: finick.official
